Лори Девоти - Unbound

“I’m sure you will accomplish that,” Risk replied.

As Lusse whirled the fireball down the length of the tube, Risk slipped out the doorway.

“Why do you want to speak with the twins?” Jormun leaned back against a cushion, a live mouse dangling by its tail from his fingers.

“Curiosity, nothing more.” Risk hid a grimace as Jormun dropped the unfortunate animal into his mouth. It was one thing to kill a beast while in his hound form and something entirely different to devour a living creature whole while human.

“Curiosity killed the cat.” Jormun chuckled. “But that’s right — wrong species.”

Risk tapped his fingers against his thigh, the thin bracelet Jormun had given him for Lusse to wear during the battle clasped in his hand.

“Besides, I think we’re almost ready for your challenge. The twins have taken it upon themselves to hone their skills. Have you seen them working in the space next to yours?”

Risk clenched his jaw. He had, and the skill and determination with which the sisters worked worried him. There was every possibility they might defeat Lusse. Funny how that used to be his goal, and now it was his nightmare.

“You’re worried, aren’t you?” Jormun grinned. “Don’t fear, friend. Life here isn’t all bad.” He clapped his hand over a gray mouse as it attempted to scramble away.

“Now, I must ask you to leave. I’ve neglected other duties since you’ve arrived and some things just can’t be avoided.” He stood. “The skapt will escort you back to your tube.”

“That’s all right. I can find my way.” And stop by Kara’s again hoping to somehow get a message inside to her.

“No,” Jormun answered abruptly. Then with a smile he softened his reply. “Not now. No one wanders free during the ceremony.”

Ceremony? Risk cocked an eyebrow, but kept the question to himself. Perhaps he was about to learn the source of Jormun’s power.

A skapt arrived and Risk followed him out of the hall.

As they approached the section outside where Kara and her sister were housed, an idea occurred to Risk.

“Is it a lot of work for you, waiting on all these witches?”

The skapt turned, surprise at being addressed written on his face. “Work? It’s why we exist. We thank the Great One for the privilege every day.”

Risk studied the skapt, trying to decide if he was one of the two Risk had met the first day. “Have you met either of these witches?” He motioned to the doorway that separated him from Kara.

The skapt frowned, his short arms hanging loosely at his sides. “Why would I?”

“You aren’t curious about them? About the legends?”

“Legends?” The skapt shook his head. “Witches are nothing but tools. They don’t have the power you or the Great One share.”

This wasn’t going as Risk had hoped. He changed gears. “But they are useful, and fascinating.”

The skapt stared at him, the skapt’s face blank.

This was getting Risk nowhere. “Would you like to see me change?” he asked.

The skapt’s eyebrows rose. “Yes.” The word came out in a reverent hiss.

Closing his eyes, Risk concentrated on transforming. Within seconds he stared at the skapt through canine eyes.

“They spoke the truth.” The skapt looked as if he might fall on his knees.

Risk glanced back toward the doorway. “Do you think you could do me a small favor?” he asked telepathically.

Hands clasped in front of him, the skapt replied, “Without doubt.”

After quickly changing back to his human form, Risk relayed what he needed. While the skapt scurried off to get the few supplies, Risk leaned with his forehead pressed against the glass. How he wished he could see Kara and talk with her in person, but the glass blocked all efforts — even his telepathy. He would have to depend on the skapt to carry his message for him.

And pray Kara still trusted him enough to do what he asked.

Kelly leaped forward, flinging a pebble-sized ball of power directly at Kara’s head. Without thinking, Kara somersaulted out of the way and landed on her feet, her own golf ball of energy forming on her palm.

“Excellent.” Kelly grinned. “No way the ice queen over there can beat us.”

Kara glanced over her shoulder at Lusse, who had stopped her own practicing hours earlier. Now she lounged on a bed of pillows, her faced turned toward the door.

“What do you think she’s waiting for?” Kara asked.

“Your boyfriend.” Kelly shook her head. “I’d like to know how she rated those pillows.” She glanced at Kara. “More proof the two of them are here as guests.”

Kara stifled a sigh. She knew Kelly was right, but she wished her sister would quit mentioning it.

A click sounded from the wall.

“What’s that?” Kara asked, glad of the diversion.

“Sounds like the call for kibble.” Kelly sauntered to the open slot. As she had guessed, a bowl slid through the opening. “Well, this is new.” Kelly pulled a folded slip of paper from under the pellets. “It’s got your name on it.” Frowning, she turned the paper over.

Kara snatched it from her hand.

“Don’t need to be grabby,” Kelly replied.

But Kara did. She knew the look on Kelly’s face; she was getting ready to suggest they destroy the note unread, and Kara couldn’t. It was from Risk; it had to be.

Giving her sister a quelling look, she walked to the end of the room and unfolded the note. Two words were written in a hasty scribble. “Lose Risk.”

“Lose what?” Kelly asked, her hair brushing against Kara’s neck.

“I…I don’t know.” Kara’s fingers tightened on the paper. Not exactly the reassuring message she had been hoping for.

“Well?” Lusse greeted Risk as he walked through the doorway. “Did you find the source?”

Ignoring her, Risk strode to the end of the tube near Kara’s. She and her sister stood huddled together at the other end, their backs to Risk.

“I asked—” Risk spun, anger and impatience sending a flare of heat through him. “Not yet. Soon.” He balled his hands at his sides. He had wanted to explain everything to Kara, his plan, why he was here with Lusse, that she had to trust him, and most of all that he would do anything to save her, sacrifice his own life and everything he valued just to know she was safe.

“How soon?” Lusse stood, kicking a silk pillow across the floor. “This…” She made a sweeping motion with her arms. “Is getting old.”

Without warning, the lights dimmed.

“Now what?” Lusse mumbled.

The ceremony. Then the battle. And Risk hadn’t got Lusse to wear the band Jormun had supplied yet. Risk wasn’t completely sure what the band did, but Jormun had emphasized that it would make the transition of Lusse from free witch to his property easier — assuming she won the battle.

“Here.” Risk stepped forward, the bracelet glowing in a delicate circle across his palm.

Lusse looked down her nose at the object. “What is that?”

“The equipment I told you about. Jormun’s one request.”

“That? He thinks that will keep me from killing his witches?”

Risk gritted his teeth. “You wearing it was his requirement for showing me the source of his power.”

“Really?” Lusse tilted her head and lifted her arms. “I feel a shift right now. Do you feel it?”

Risk did, and his anxiety grew. “Will you put it on?”

Lusse glanced back at the bracelet and sighed. “Give it to me. I’ll think about it.” She plucked the object off Risk’s palm and tucked it into the pocket of her skirt.

As she did, a loud monotonous hissing sounded behind them.

“Fascinating.” Lusse’s lips parted.

The wall separating their tube from the main one cleared. Standing shoulder to shoulder were the skapt, their eyes glowing and their bodies turned toward the Midgard Sea.